6 Days & 5 Nights

4.2

Cycle Verona to Lake Garda

Relaxed Italian cycling discovery from Verona to Lake Garda
Explore Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet
Ride to the vineyards of Soave and sample the local Verdicchio
Visit Lake Garda’s delightful villages and the hot springs of Sirmione
Dine on fresh gnocchi in Mantova’s cobbled piazzas

Ride from the Renaissance city of Verona to the southern shores of Lake Garda on this relaxed cycling tour across the Veneto Plains. Explore Verona’s streets and step back through the centuries, visiting Romeo and Juliet’s courtyard and the majesty of ‘The Arena’, an exquisitely preserved Roman Amphitheatre. Cycle across the River Adige and pedal through vineyards to the wine town of Soave, pairing local white wines with bowls of fresh gnocchi. Head across the Veneto plains to the cobbled streets and piazzas of Mantova, the inspiration behind Verdi’s opera, Rigoletto. Follow a series of waterways to Lake Garda and spend two nights in Peschiera del Garda. Take a lakeside ride to the towns of Lazise and Bardolino or for a more relaxing day, hop on a ferry to the stunning village of Sirmione and spend the afternoon soaking in the hot springs. Round off the day, dining al fresco with a chilled bottle of Verdicchio and freshly grilled Garda fish.

From $1,380.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive Verona

Verona airport is easily linked with Verona’s old town via a 20 minute shuttle airport bus service.

On arrival, head to the Piazza Brâ and discover Verona’s exceptionally well preserved Roman amphitheatre, dating back to 1st century BC. Brimming with Renaissance architecture and the romance of Romeo and Juliet, exploring the surrounding streets where cafes serve gelato and sweet pastries.

Overnight Verona

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Accademia | 4 Star | Hotel

Located in the heart of Verona, this 4* hotel is a former 16^th century academy and is found on the bustling Mazzini Street. Only a few minutes’ walk from the historic sights. Hotel Academia is within easy reach of the cafes and bars of Piazza Bra and Shakespear' Juliet's famous balcony.

Hotel Touring Verona | 3 Star | Hotel

The Hotel is based in the cities historical center, located between Galleria Pellicciai and Via Mazzini. It is only 50 meters from Piazza Erbe and all the Verona attractions.

Day 2 Loop ride via Soave Vineyards 38.5 miles / 61 km

Leaving the lively streets of Verona, cross the River Adige and cycle along country lanes to the fortified wine town of Soave. Encircled by medieval fortifications, Soave town has a picture book setting. Sample a selection of locally produced white wines accompanied by the classic regional dish of gnocchi. Later, return to Verona by way of a riverside cycleway.

Ascent/descent: 340m/335m

Overnight Verona

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Accademia | 4 Star | Hotel

Hotel Touring Verona | 3 Star | Hotel

The Hotel is based in the cities historical center, located between Galleria Pellicciai and Via Mazzini. It is only 50 meters from Piazza Erbe and all the Verona attractions.

Day 3 Cycle to Mantova 30 miles / 48 km

Cycle south west across the Veneto plains as you pedal Mantova. Surrounded by 3 lakes, the cobbled piazzas of Mantova were the inspiration behind Verdi’s opera, Rigoletto. Explore the piazzas of Sordello, Broletto and Erbe and later relax at a lakeside café. The perfect setting to soak up the sunshine over a chilled bottle of local Mantovano wine.

Ascent/descent: 15m/60m

Overnight Mantova

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Casa Poli | 4 Star | Hotel

Hotel Casa Poli offers a pleasant, sophisticated environment to its guests. The hotel is furnished in a minimalist, sophisticated style: pure, essential style furniture, plays of light that have been studied down to the finest detail, high technology comfort.

Hotel Broletto | 3 Star | Hotel

Located in the heart of the historical centre, Hotel Broletto is a short walk to the Piazza Sordello, Sant Andrea Cathedral and Dukes Palace. Comfortable, traditional rooms have a contemporary twist. The hotel is also easily reached after a day of cycling.

Day 4: Cycle to Peschiera del Garda (with optional detour to Volta Mantova) 35 miles / 56.4 km

The route today follows a series of waterways along easy-going country lanes and cycleways to the southern lakeside town of Peschiera del Garda. Spending the next two nights in Peschiera allows ample time to explore the lake by bike and ferry. Halfway along the route, you have the option to do a short detour loop ride (approx. 10km) up to the small commune of Volta Mantovana and its 11th-century castle. It’s worth the extra distance for the deserted cycle path alongside the Vigilio Canal, followed by lunch in the centre of town.

Please note that the total distance today includes this optional 10km detour to Volta Mantovana.

On arrival in Peschiera del Garda, head to the beach and relax with the sunset before dining in one of the many family-run trattorias in the historic town centre.

Ascent/descent (with the extra detour): 260m/200m

Overnight Peschiera Del Garda

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel San Marco | 3 Star | Hotel

The Hotel San Marco is located not far from the historic centre of Peschiera del Garda, directly on the waterfront Mazzini. A great location for a relaxing stay and wellbeing in a refined three star hotel. A charming landscape and the elegance of details are some of the aspects that distinguish Hotel San Marco and leave lasting memories on all who stay. The family management makes Hotel San Marco a “second home”, a cosy place where you can feel harmony and tranquillity.

Hotel Garden | 3 Star | Hotel

Peschiera del Garda with more than 10,000 inhabitants is one of the most beautiful and famous towns of Lake Garda. Three of the ancient settlements on the Alps, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, are located here. Near to the main tourist attractions of Lake Garda.

Garden Hotel offers recently renovated rooms and guarantees their guests a pleasant stay. They offer a range of services, including:

Private parking and garage
Free Wi-Fi
Internet Point
Daily cleaning
Pre-sale ticket service
Bar and restaurant
Local transportation available
Smoke-free hotel

Day 5 Cycle to Garda Town or visit Sirmione 19 miles / 30 km

Hop in the saddle for your last day of riding and cycle along the lake shore to the town of Garda. Cycle through the old town of Lazise and take a waterside coffee stop in Bardolino. On arrival in Garda sample a lunch of fresh lake fish before returning to Peschiera by ferry.

Alternatively, take a day off the bikes and catch a ferry to the lakeside town of Sirmione. Sitting at the edge of a peninsula, the town is possibly Lake Garda’s prettiest and the hot springs of Sirmione are the perfect way to round off a relaxing day.

Ascent/descent: 45m/45m

Overnight Peschiera Del Garda

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel San Marco | 3 Star | Hotel

Day 6 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 10kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 10kg is equivalent to 18 lattes. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

The tour is graded easy to moderate. Each ride is 35-57km and follows cycle paths and country roads from Verona to Lake Garda. By day, explore Roman and Renaissance sights and in the evening dine on fresh pasta dishes, washed down with local white wines. Spending 2 nights in Verona and Lake Garda means there is plenty of time to take the tour at your own pace, recharging each evening in comfortable, characterful 3* hotels.

Tour Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Foodie

Wine

E-Bike

Activity Level & Terrain

The tour is graded easy to moderate. Each ride is 35-60 km and follows cycle paths and country roads from Verona to Lake Garda on rolling terrain. This cycling route follows a combination of cycle paths, quiet country roads and busier routes when approaching and departing towns and cities. Please always be mindful of other roads users at all times, especially when cycling on routes shared with traffic.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

5 Nights in 3* hotels
5 Breakfasts
Baggage transfer
Information pack
Access to route notes, detailed maps, and GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office

Excluded

Travel to Verona / from Peschiera del Garda
Bike hire (or upgrade to e-bike hire)
Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
Ferry journeys on the lake
Personal equipment
Travel insurance

Extras

Additional nights along the route
Bike hire
Upgrade to e-bike hire
Arrival or departure transfers

When to go Travel & Transfers Info & FAQ

General Information

All bike tours are unescorted. The distances listed are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, cycle clothing and personal medications etc.

Equipment

21 speed touring bikes are available for hire. Rental bikes come equipped with a basic repair kit, pump and helmet (though we recommend using your own). Male and female frames are available. If you’d like to hire a bike, please let us know your height and frame size you currently ride.

E Bikes are also available for hire if you would like a power-assisted ride. For more information on E Bikes please click here.

If you would prefer to bring your own bicycle please ensure it is thoroughly serviced and is an appropriate bike for this trip such as Scott Sub, Trek 7200 or similar.

If you do intend to bring your own bike, please do let us know at the time book as extra transfer arrangements may be required for any large bike cases/boxes.

If you’d like to hire a bike, please let us know your height and frame size you currently ride, along with any other specific requests you may have. We’re always happy to answer any questions regarding hire bikes.

If you would to bring your own road bike please ensure it is thoroughly serviced and is an appropriate bike for this trip.

Travel Insurance

It is strongly recommended that you secure adequate travel insurance.